Ministerial Statement

ForestrySA

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL (Mawson—Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Tourism, Minister for Recreation and Sport, Minister for Racing) (14:05): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: The Mid North forestry plantations were devastated by fires in 2013 and 2014 which have resulted in a reduction in the plantation of more than 80 per cent. The government is aware of the significance the plantations have to the local community and South Australians, as they provide a source of jobs, tourism, sporting grounds, as well as environmental appeal. In winter 2014, ForestrySA, which manages the Mid North forests, undertook a small replant of 60 hectares of the Bundaleer forest.

This week, I have issued a direction to ForestrySA to undertake a further replant of approximately 150 hectares of radiata pine trees in the Bundaleer forest during this autumn and winter. ForestrySA understands the importance of the replant and supports the move. However, as the decision involves matters of public policy, where community interests as well as commercial principles have to be applied, ForestrySA has requested a direction to be issued.

ForestrySA will allocate the resources to the replant from within its existing operational budget. It is expected the replant will occur in the coming months during favourable conditions. The replant is vitally important, given the consultation being undertaken by the government in regard to the future of the Mid North forestry areas which will not be completed until the end of 2015. Until the government has made a decision about the future of the Mid North forests, it is not appropriate to replant on a larger scale.

The Mid North Forests—Future Strategy, which is being led by the government, will determine what the best options for the Mid North forests are from an economic, business, social, recreational, environmental and financial perspective. I am advised that at the current rate of supply, we have about five years of logs remaining. Trees planted this year will not start to produce commercial-size logs for a least 22 years. Planting larger areas will not change that time frame, which is why a range of options for the future management of the forests must be considered.

A report commissioned by ForestrySA a year ago, Strategic Directions for the Mid North Pine Plantation Estate, prepared by Mr Doug Parsonson, found there was no future for pine plantations in the Mid North. The region needs a diversified economy, not one that has a dependency upon forestry, and it is important that all locals have a say on the matter. The future may involve private ownership of the forests, which have been in government hands since the 1870s.

The government is committed to ensuring the region is best placed to enable growth, jobs and prosperity in the local area, given the situation it has faced in recent years. I would like to thank Mr Greg Boston, chair of the Northern Forest Community Initiative Group which has facilitated recent public workshops attended by around 350 people in Jamestown and Wirrabara. I should also put on the record my thanks to the member for Stuart and the member for Frome. As good, hardworking local members, they have been involved in the process along the way, and we still have plenty of work to do in the next six to nine months as well.

There are still a lot of discussions to be had. By not replanting any new trees this year we would have made those discussions worthless. This move does not guarantee there will be a future for the forestry industry for the Mid North. We do not want to give people false hope, but we do want to give them every chance of success if the decision made at the end of the year is for some form of forestry to continue.